Hi! It’s actually the only graphic novel I’ve read, a friend who is a big comic book/graphic novel fan got it for my birthday after hearing I liked the film. But yes, I liked it very much, thought I felt I enjoyed the first half more than the second (perhaps influenced by the film?) – but tell me what you think!

I read Persepolis just a couple months ago! My girlfriend is Persian, and she highly recommended it. I want to watch the animated film version, too, but I haven’t seen it yet.

This sounds really interesting. I’ve always been fascinated by taxidermy, which may be odd for a vegetarian, but still. I definitely want to check out the book.

also, i would totally recommend still life! it has a respectful view on taxidermy from a person who is initially an outsider to the field. it covers the history and present of taxidermy concisely but thoroughly. i’m definitely biased towards it because i appreciate taxidermy but even if you aren’t the author breaks down stereotypes and gives a…[Read more]

I am glad that you want to spotlight women in literature. here is a web sight by women about women in literature. http://vidaweb.org/

when people tell me that they read twilight, i usually try to get them to check out “better” vampire books. three quick favorites (and this is from someone who really doesn’t enjoy vampires – but these are well written/hilarious):
Evernight series by Claudia Gray
Boys that Bite by Mari Mancusi
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

ooo, I would recommend ‘Slouching Towards Bethlehem’ by Joan Didion. It’s a beautifully varied collection of essays about California in the sixties. If anything, I’d say read the essay on San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury culture during the Summer of Love is most definitely worth a look. :]

I would definitely read Atlas Shrugged instead of The fountain head if you are going to do Ayn Rand. I mean though you have to take a step back and try realllllly hard not to get sucked up in the fantasy world she weaves and realize that it cannot work and that she left out major major points. But it is a fantastic novel =]

Geek Love fucked with my head so hard omg, I’m jealous that you get to take that trip.

I generally strongly recommend against reading anything by Ayn Rand but like Angela said at least Atlas Shrugged is a better(ish – it’s still really bad) story.

Jack the Ripper – Case Closed is a compelling argument but not really case closed. It’s awesome…[Read more]

thanks for all the suggestions, these are definitely getting added to my list! i’m also putting ‘tipping the velvet’ and ‘orlando’ on and probably some sylvia plath (but not the bell jar, i read that right before a semi-recent break up and it was a baaaad idea)
ie. ayn rand: it’s too late for me, i’ve already read and reread the fountainhead and…[Read more]

I like the idea of reading only female writers. I’ve spoken with a lot of friends (male and female) who seem to dismiss them. I’ve been keeping a list of all the books I’ve read this year, so far I’ve read 31 of which (unintentionally) 20 were women. I think my favourites probably were by women as well.
Can I recommend Margaret Atwood (Oryx and…[Read more]

You said you wanted to read graphic novels – my favorite graphic novel by a lady is Alison Bechdel’s FUN HOME. Not only is the art fantastic but it’s an amazing literary coming-of-age / coming out story.

I’ve been pimping Catherynne Valente like there’s no tomorrow, but she’s so awesome and I love every word she writes.
‘Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang’ by Joyce Carole Oates is a really great story, as well as a scathing critique of the treatment of gender, class, and race. With bonus lesbosexy subtext!

If you like urban fantasy, Dianne…[Read more]

If you read YA or fantasy, Malinda Lo’s “Ash” and “Huntress” (especially Huntress) are quite great and easy read.
Virginia Woolf’s “To the light house”, anything by Jane Austen and Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters’s “Fingersmith” are also brilliant..

the name of the star, by maureen johnson #jacktheripper #contemporary